Let s talk about your family.

What is family for you?

Family is very important for every person, because it gives you a sense of stability and tradition, a feeling of having support and understanding. You feel secure when there’s a family behind you. They are people whom you can trust and rely on, people who won’t let you down and who share your joys and sor­rows. In happy families parents are honest with their children, they treat their children with respect without bossing them, and children in their turn learn how to treat other people and how to form relationship with their peers.

Are you on good terms with your parents and grandparents?

Yes, I am. I enjoy honest and open relationship in my family. I like it when parents trust their children, give them enough freedom and respect them. I think these things make family relations warm and pleasant. There is no so-called "generation gap" in our family, though we may argue and dis­agree on certain issues. For example, my parents don’t always approve of my tastes, views and clothes.

In fact I have a closer relationship with my mother. We understand each other better, which I think is quite natural. We can spend hours and hours talking about our family problems, fashion, views on education, people’s relations and ambitions.

I guess when people spend more time together they become closer to each other. It’s a pity, but my parents and I are usually very busy during the week­days and we seldom have a chance to spend time together. Sunday is the day when we can sit at the table and talk over everything what happened during the week. Eating together makes us feel close and we often have our most frank conversations at this time. Also once a week my mum gives the flat a big clean. Of course I help her with it. By the way it’s not so boring. I turn on music and we even have tun. Then we may go shopping together. During our shopping rounds we discuss a lot of things and make plans for the next weekend. I try to keep in touch with my grandparents. They are always inter­ested in my daily routine, my plans, my school studies and always show sup­port and understanding when I have some problems. I also do my best to be helpful for them with household duties and summer work at our dacha.